OCULAR HEALTH
CHALAZION
Know the signs & symptoms
CHALAZION
A chalazion is a hot, red, painful lump under or on the eyelid, which appears within a day or two. Its size may be that of a lentil or a pea, or sometimes even an olive. The chalazion may be on the outside of the eyelid and may be seen easily, but it can also be on the inner side: from the outside, the eyelid is simply red and swollen, and the eyelid must be everted to see the chalazion.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A CHALAZION?
The chalazion often starts with an isolated pain located in the eyelid. Then in the space of a day or two a small, round, red, hot and painful mass appears in the eyelid. This small ball can be visible outside the eyelid, but it can also be located on the inside of the lid: in this case, from the outside, the eyelid is red and swollen and the ball can only be felt through palpation, and can only be seen by everting the eyelid
DIAGNOSING A CHALAZION
• Anyone can have a chalazion, but they occur more frequently in children.
• The chalazion initially appears as a red, hot and painful eyelid swelling.
• Any inflammation of the eyes or eyelids should warrant a medical consultation to confirm the diagnosis.
What are the causes of Chalazion?
Chalazions are caused by the inflammation of the Meibomian gland. The Meibomian glands produce lipids (fat), which form the “meibum” and mingle with tears to ensure the lubrication of the ocular surface. These tiny glands are located in the eyelids and are connected to the free edge of the eyelids by a small canal. It can happen that this canal gets blocked: in this case, the meibum manufactured by the gland cannot flow, the gland becomes clogged and swells and inflammation and sometimes infection can occur.
Some people are particularly prone to chalazions which then tend to re-occur. Chalazions are favoured by the existence of dry eye or any inflammation of the ocular surface, such as rosacea which thickens the lipids produced by the Meibomian glands and makes their evacuation more difficult if not impossible.
HOW TO TREAT A CHALAZION
SOME PRECAUTIONS ARE TO BE TAKEN:
Some people are particularly prone to chalazions which then tend to re-occur.
In this case, to prevent recurrences, it is recommended to take daily care of the eyelids: by heating the eyelids with a warm wet compress for 5 minutes or through use of the heated BLEPHASTEAM® (medical device) glasses followed by eyelid massage, with a gel or an impregnated wipe intended for this use BLEPHAGEL®, (cosmetic product), BLEPHACLEAN® (medical device) .
If the chalazion is related to a chronic disease (rosacea, dry eye, etc), it is also useful to use hydrating and lubricating eye drops to reduce the inflammation of the ocular surface, for example, THEALOSE® (medical device).
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE A CHALAZION?
The treatment of the chalazion requires softening and emptying the secretions of the inflamed gland, through eye care practiced twice a day: heating the eyelid using a wet and warm compress for 5 minutes or, better yet, use of BLEPHASTEAM® (medical device) heated glasses followed by massage of the closed eyelid, with a gel or an impregnated wipe intended for this use (BLEPHAGEL®, (cosmetic product), BLEPHACLEAN® (medical device). You should also consult a health professional, who will add an antibiotic and steroid ointment to your eyelid care routine for 10 days.
WHO SHOULD I CONSULT FOR A CHALAZION?
If you have a chalazion for the first time, it is best to have the diagnosis confirmed by a practitioner or by an ophthalmologist. In addition, only a doctor may prescribe the proper treatment. At the cyst stage, it is necessary to remove it surgically – this intervention is carried out under local anaesthetic in a few minutes by an ophthalmologist. All recurrent chalazions require an ophthalmology consultation to search for the cause.
